Firelink vs Internet Download Manager
Firelink
github.comInternet Download Manager
internetdownloadmanager.comSide by side
| Figure | Firelink | Internet Download Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | 0.68 CHF/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | — |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 2 | 4 |
| Spec score · Download Manager Software | 8.6 (#7) | 7.7 (#31) |
| Browser support | The Companion supports Firefox and Chromium Manifest V3; Edge installation is available through Microsoft Edge Add-ons, while other Chromium browsers use a manually installed package. | IDM integrates with browsers including Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Internet Explorer, and Safari. |
| Purpose | Firelink manages direct downloads, browser captures, media, playlists, queues, and scheduling in one desktop app. | IDM is a download manager that accelerates, resumes, and schedules internet downloads. |
| Support | The maker directs users to GitHub Issues to report bugs and request features. | The maker offers a free support service and provides FAQs and a user guide. |
Plans
Internet Download Manager
- One-year license, 2 or more PCs8.15 CHF a year
- One-year license, 1 PC9.80 CHF a year
- Lifetime license, 2 or more PCs16.25 CHF, paid once
- Lifetime license, 1 PC20.25 CHF, paid once
In their own words
Firelink
Firelink is a free desktop download manager for direct files, browser handoffs, media, playlists, torrents and scheduled queues. It supports segmented HTTP and HTTPS downloads with retries, speed limits, connection controls and adaptive mirror selection. Queues can be paused, resumed, retried, redownloaded and scheduled. Bundled yt-dlp, FFmpeg and Deno support media and playlist downloads, including direct HLS, DASH and Smooth Streaming manifest URLs; DRM and other protected-key workflows are not supported, and subtitle or multiple-audio-track selection is not exposed in the current phase.
The Firelink Companion can send browser downloads, selected links, media pages and torrent information to the desktop app for review. It supports Firefox and Chromium Manifest V3, with Edge installation through Microsoft Edge Add-ons and a release ZIP for other Chromium browsers. The extension says download data stays local. Firelink is available for macOS, Windows and Linux under the MIT License. The macOS package is ad-hoc signed and not notarized, the Windows installer is unsigned, and the current Linux AppImage requires glibc 2.35 or newer.
Internet Download Manager
Internet Download Manager has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.